2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in New Mexico

[Public Administration & Social Service](/majors/social-services-public-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for public administration & social service students.
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2026 Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools in New Mexico
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public administration & social service degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Administration & Social Service Schools
San Juan College tops our 2026 list of the best value public administration & social service schools in New Mexico. Set in the rural area of Farmington, San Juan College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,910, compared with $5,393 for out-of-state students. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $16,150 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from San Juan College generally make around $41,697. Set against $16,150 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes New Mexico State University Main Campus one of the best values for public administration & social service. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,183, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. Public Administration & Social Service graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Public Administration & Social Service graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $41,633 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at Western New Mexico University, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Silver City, Western New Mexico University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,855, while out-of-state students pay about $14,341. Students borrow a median of $35,448 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Soon after graduation, public administration & social service degree recipients from Western New Mexico University generally make around $50,761. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in public administration & social service will find it at Santa Fe Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the rural area of Santa Fe, Santa Fe Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,851, compared with $4,131 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration & social service graduates is $15,267. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $51,935. That is a strong return on a $15,267 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes University Of New Mexico Main Campus one of the best values for public administration & social service. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,140, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,738 to complete the public administration & social service program here. Early-career public administration & social service graduates make about $61,253. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.